March 2 2010

Paul Hart

New manager Paul Hart has vowed to keep Crystal Palace in the Championship.

The former QPR and Portsmouth boss was announced at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon with Dougie Freedman his assistant.

Hart replaces Neil Warnock who left for Rangers when he felt he had no future at the club after two-and-a-half years at Selhurst Park.

After helping Pompey beat the drop from the Premier League last season, Hart reckons he can repeat the trick with Palace.

The Eagles sit just one place above the relegation zone after being docked 10 points for falling into administration.

"It is going to be a testing time," he said. "We have got to get results and we got to get them quickly.

"It's a nerve-racking experience but I look at this group of players and I think we can come out of it, we have people that won't go under and that's what you need.

"I get some comfort in seeing the names in the squad, experienced players and strong characters.

"It's very similar to Portsmouth last year, where there were strong characters who just needed a little shove."

Brendan Guilfoyle approached the 56-year-old only the night before and Hart is excited about the new challenge.

Hart said: "This is a big challenge but it is one that I felt after talking to Brendan Guilfoyle and Phil Alexander that the support would be there.

"We are going to need everybody behind us and there is only one objective – to stay in this division.

"We have only one goal and it has been spelt out that this club deserves to be in this division.

"I asked a few questions and it was explained to me how the club was run and what was required. I felt those conditions were fair and that I could succeed.

"We need to hit the ground running. I haven’t met the players yet but I saw them play against Aston Villa and I was very pleased with what I saw.

"I thought they gave them a great game and made it very, very tough. That sort of character and attitude is what we are going to need. That was part of the attraction – the strength of character which remains in the squad."